https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6 SED 570 en-us 2019-01-11 23:10:57 UTC 2025-12-15 14:55:51 UTC hello@padlet.com sydormelissa https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319897583 I grew up in a small town in northern Michigan. I spent my elementary years in a private Catholic school where my neighbors were also my classmates. Our weekends and holidays revolved around family gatherings. My mom loved to cook and our house was often the central hub of the family. ]]> 2019-01-11 23:14:59 UTC https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319897583 sydormelissa https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319897634 Reframing: my son having a disability has made me a better mom and also led me to my career in special education. Without my son's early childhood special education teachers, I wouldn't have been able to get Austin the help he needed.
Professional Support: it takes a village. The agencies and services they provide are difficult to navigate. Through help and guidance I have found help for my son and my students. ]]> 2019-01-11 23:15:46 UTC https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319897634 sydormelissa https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319897665 My first born son, Austin, was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 6. His odd and repetitive behaviors were difficult to manage and hard for family and friends to accept. After years of psychiatrists, psychologists, inpatient treatment stays, and special education services, it was too much for Austin's father to handle and he walked away from our family. Now, at the age of 19, Austin has graduated from high school with a diploma and is employed at Kroger through the help of a job coach. ]]> 2019-01-11 23:16:06 UTC https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319897665 sydormelissa https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319897709 My mom, dad, brother, and I were all very close and worked together as a family unit. While my brother and I were in elementary school, my mom stayed home and spent a lot of time in our classrooms as a volunteer. She would always make a big family dinner and we would all sit together to discuss our day. Once my mom returned to work, my brother and I started doing more chores and looked out for one another. ]]> 2019-01-11 23:16:36 UTC https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319897709 sydormelissa https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319897728 When I was in 6th grade, my dad lost his job and we had to relocate from a very rural farming community to a suburb of Detroit. Due to the loss of employment, my parents couldn't afford private school either. Adapting to both a new environment and a new schooling experience was scary and full of dread. I remember having very difficult days when we first moved and my class size went from 9 to almost 30. The core values of my parents and the time we all spent together definitely held us together during these stressful changes. ]]> 2019-01-11 23:16:50 UTC https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319897728 sydormelissa https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319897747 I grew up only having one younger brother. From my earliest memories, i remember wanted a big family. Well that dream became a reality. I have 5 children: Austin (19), TJ (18), Kaitlyn (17), Becca (15), and Brianna (4). 

]]> 2019-01-11 23:17:07 UTC https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319897747 sydormelissa https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319907891 2019-01-12 01:50:17 UTC https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319907891 sydormelissa https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319908070 2019-01-12 01:53:23 UTC https://padlet.com/sydormelissa/it75hz42yqd6/wish/319908070